Alaska Grand Explorer Tour 2018 - 10 Day Escorted Tour Itinerary

July 12, 2018 to July 21, 2018

SMALL GROUP ALASKA LAND TOUR. Maximum 13 passengers traveling with 1 Alaska resident guide in one of our deluxe small coaches. Designated for travelers of age 13 and above.

DAILY ITINERARY: Your escorted vacation is spent fully discovering Alaska and meeting Alaskans. Trip days generally begin 8-9 am and end 8-9 pm, give or take an hour if the day warrants. Travel is at a comfortable pace with time out of the vehicle experiencing many things along the way. Custom and Optional activities can be arranged for an even more personal experience.. Travelers should be able to walk unassisted (at least a block and up a few stairs), and in good medical condition in order to participate in this small group tour. Times listed are approximate and if needed ATG may alter the schedule as needed to suit the situation. Our tours are meant to experience Alaska in a more personal way with more time away from the crowded larger coach destinations. We focus on showing you some of the real Alaska where you're one in 13 rather than one in 100 or 1000.

Day 1 - Arrival Day: Thursday, July 12, 2018- Anchorage, Alaska

Arrive Anchorage, Alaska. Explore Anchorage on your own as time allows. Downtown area hotel in walking distance to Anchorage attractions, shops, dining and activity. We're happy to assist with any information for individual plans this day. **Unguided. (Meals and activities for this day are at your own expense. The hotel room and tax is included in the tour rate).

Overnight at the Clarion Suites downtown Anchorage. All two-room suites are elegantly furnished. The hotel offers a wide arrange of amenities, including: *Free hot breakfast buffet *Free Wi-Fi internet access *Free 24-hour airport shuttle service *Free Alaska Railroad shuttle service *Exercise room. Be sure to take a dip in the indoor heated pool or relax in the accompanying hot tub.

8:30 am Meet and greet your Alaskan Tour Guide in the hotel lobby, ready to begin your journey. Travel exclusively in a luxury shuttle van with easy stand up access, comfortable captain chairs and large viewing windows. Your guide is a year round Alaska resident who will share stories and information for an entertaining and enlightening tour. We want you to see Alaska up close and personal.

The drive heads south on the Seward Highway, a National Scenic Byway which passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. The landscape varies from the muddy waters of Turnagain Arm to the icy blue glaciers that hang almost to the sea. Wildflowers and waterfalls brighten every corner of the road as it glides below rough mountains that pierce thick, heavy clouds. Only Alaska's Seward Highway offers this particular mix created by climate, geography, and geology. Wildlife viewing has high potential along this highway. We'll take ample time to enjoy any sightings.

The Begich, Boggs Visitor Center is built upon the terminal moraine left behind by Portage Glacier in 1914. A short visit is to learn about the Chugach National Forest, America's second largest national forest and it ecosystems.

A quick lunch stop is made at the Portage Glacier lodge for yummy sandwich fare and hot soups.

1:00 pm check in. The Glacier Discovery Tour is the Alaskan experience that you always pictured in your minds eye. Experience steel blue glacier ice up close and personal! Board the Alaska Railroad at Portage, travel is south down the Placer Valley leaving the highway behind and into country only accessible by train. Several hanging glaciers appear before the stop at Spencer Glacier. This is another wildlife habitat populated with bear, moose, coyotes and wolves. Swans pause here on their migration, yellowlegs and arctic terns also make their home here. Its hard to believe this is only a few hours out of Anchorage and completely off the road system.

Guests disembark the train in the ultra-scenic Placer valley at Spencer Lake. After a brief motor transport to Spencer Lake the raft is launched. Spencer Lake is full of icebergs that crumble from the glacier. The ice is so close you can touch it (however for safety reasons it may not always be advisable to do so). Relax as your guide navigates the raft down the Placer River through spirited Class I (maybe II) rapids that are fun but mild. Take photos or just enjoy the wildness of it all. You shouldn't expect to get wet except for an occasional small splash. After this amazingly scenic float, you'll get back on the train and return to Portage for travel by your small coach south to Seward.

The picturesque town of Seward, Alaska offers you the experience one of Alaska's coastal communities known for dramatic mountains against the sea views, tidewater glaciers and abundant marine wildlife. The connection to the sea is very apparent in Alaskan harbor towns, we show you some of the highlights while here.

Check in to your Alaskan hotel before dining. Dinner on your own this evening, choice to dine nearby at your hotel or downtown with shuttle transfers provided by your driver up to 9 pm.

Nestled in a spectacular glacier river valley, the Seward Windsong Lodge is exceptional lodging. Guest rooms for the Seward Windsong Lodge are spread out in a wooded setting, surrounded by spruce trees and wildflowers. Furnished and well-appointed with comfortable, Alaskan-style décor.

Dinner at one of Seward's finest where you order from the menu. *We choose from a variety of good quality restaurants and allow you to order from the menu: an entree, non-alcohol beverage and dessert. Non-market price items only. Plenty of Alaskan seafood choices. Steak options and limited vegetarian. Not all restaurants are able to accommodate Gluten free diets. Travelers are recommended to prepare for any special dietary needs and bring along.

Before departing Seward, travel along the Resurrection River toward Exit Glacier to explore the topography, vegetation and natural habitats surrounding a glacial environment. Short walks to views or more moderate ones lead up to the glacier terminus. Either offer great photo opporunities.

Return travel along the Seward Highway offers a second opportunity at incredible views and potential wildlife sightings as well as a few more favored small stops.

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a non profit organization that cares for rescued wildlife, injured and orphans. They promote better awareness of Alaska wildlife conservation methods through public education and they provide a fantastic opportunity to photograph Alaska wildlife up close. Moose, brown and black bear, musk ox, wood bison and more are all cared for at this facility. Travel continues just north of Anchorage for an afternoon adventure in Alaska wilderness.

Ride the Alyeska areial tram to the top of Mt. Aleyska. A seven minute ride to 2300' offers stunning views of the surrounding Chugach mountains, hanging glaciers and the Cook Inlet.

Travel continues north of Anchorage, with stops as needed to overnight destination in the heart of the Matanuska Susitna Valley.

Our overnight lodging is in the town of Wasilla, Alaska. "Home of the Iditarod". The Lake Lucille Inn. Surround yourself with Alaskan flavor and the most majestic views in Alaska. (Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

8:00 a.m. Depart for travel along a Scenic Byway that offers panoramic mountain views, magnificent blue ice glaciers and wildlife viewing opportunities. Travel follows the Matanuska River as it carves it's way down from higher country through mountains and valleys and up to it's headwaters at the face of the majestic Matanuska Glacier, a 27 mile long, 4 mile wide blue-ice glacier. Drive time 1.5 hours. 9:30 a.m. check in to trek on an Alaska glacier!

The Glacier Hike is a popular trek, featuring close-up views of crevasses, seracs and unique ice formations as well as getting up to a high point on the glacier which overlooks the ice fall. This experience tops the list in many visitors highlights. This activity may be difficult for anyone with knee, back or stability conditions. As an alternative activity, you may take a short nature walk with views of the glacier, and a nearby overlook where we occasionally see Dall sheep. If weather is inclement, we stop for a piece of pie and favorite beverage at a nearby hunter's lodge with views overlooking the glacier. 1:00p.m.

A picnic lunch of sandwiches and salads is enjoyed at the Matanuska Glacier State Rec site with views of the glacier. Return to Palmer, along the scenic byway stopping for short photo opportunities of incredible mountain, river and valley views.

4:00 pm Hatcher Pass is breathtaking with beauty. It's granite mountain peaks jut up from the wildflower covered tundra and pristine mountain streams meander through the valley below. Panoramic views and short nature walks are pleasing for outdoor lovers. At the top of Hatcher Pass is the historic Independence Mine, which is protected by the Alaska State Parks to offer a preserved experience of what life was like back in the Gold Rush days. Paved interpretive trails, historic buildings and exhibits can all be explored.

Today we head north, stopping in route to enjoy our favorite sights, attractions and activities. Tour Dream a Dream kennels. Vern Halter, a veteran Iditarod musher who weaves the history of the Iditarod into his informative presentation. Meet the huskies who make up the team, enjoy a short nature walk with the newest members, the pups! Then enjoy a special ride on a multi-seat All Terrain Vehicle with the option of standing positions too. These dog limos are the coolest and most realistic way to ride with a sled dog team in the summer months. It's great training for the dogs and you'll see how they love it! A wonderful lunch is provided for our guests to spend more time with the musher.

Continuing north and taking a slight side trip to visit the frontier town of Talkeetna. This rustic little town is big on Alaska flavor. Some of the best views of north America's tallest peak can be seen from here. Enjoy the delicious diners, quirky museums and quaint artist shops as you stroll along the main street.

It is OPTIONAL and additional cost to take a flight seeing tour of MT. McKinley. This is also a highlight that may not be available on last minute reservation.

The Southside Explorer flight with a glacier landing is a 1 hour tour that flys into the heart of the Alaska range, over glaciers and other amazing sights to where you'll land on a glacier and have a chance to step out onto Mt. McKinley. Added cost.

Continue the drive north to arrive in the Denali park area in time for dinner

The Grande Denali Lodge offers vistas of Denali wilderness and the Nenana river that will take your breathe away. Enjoy all the comforts of this full service hotel that sits above the rest. View rooms with two queen beds. (Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner)

Today is an "Optional" day in Denali. This afternoon is to allow you to set the pace of your trip and pick what you'd like to do. Your guide will take care of transfers and arrangements as needed. Advance reservations are required for activities chosen.No additional cost options include - short hikes, Denali park shuttle to Savage river for hike, shopping, relaxing at your lodge. Visit the Denali Visitor Center for displays and information including a variety of films. Shuttle transportation provided by hotel if ATG is unavailable.

Dinner on your own tonight, we suggest your hotel restaurant or ATG can provide shuttle service up to 9 pm to nearby dining choices.

Spend your second night in Denali. (Meals included: Breakfast)

Day 8: Thursday, July 19, 2018 - Denali National Park & Preserve

8:30 am to 4:3o pm Today is a full day in the park experience. Denali National Park and Preserve provides visitors with the experience of a lifetime. Wildlife, bird life, wild flowers, landscapes, mountains and more. On a clear day, this 8-hour shuttle bus trip into the park affords outstanding views of MT. McKinley and the Alaska Range when visible. Opened in June 2008 the completely reconstructed Visitor Center was sustainable constructed and all new
interpretive exhibits are well worth the visit. This trip travels 65 miles one way, 8 hours round trip. We suggest anyone desiring more time in the park to hike at the Eielson visitor center and return by a later bus.

Returning to overnight at the Lakefront Anchorage, formerly known as the Millennium. The hotel offers modern, lodge-like accommodations on the shores of Lake Spenard and lake Hood. The lobby is rich with displays of animals indigenous to Alaska including a Kodiak brown bear, polar and black bears. Numerous king salmon, moose and caribou mounts also adorn the spacious and comfortable lobby. From a lakeside deck, guests can watch floatplanes take off from the busiest floatplane airport in north america. (Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch)